SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Drivers may be noticing some new and odd looking road signs popping up around San Diego County.
These signs are part of a larger system designed to give commuters information and options during their drive.
So far, the new roads signs have begun to appear in Poway, San Diego and Escondido. The new signs show a letter system of alternative routes
According to James Dreisbach-Towle, the principle technology program manager at SANDAG, the signs are part of a pilot program launching in January designed to ease traffic and give drivers options.
Dreisbach-Towle said the signs have recently been installed along a 20-mile portion of Interstate-15, from State-Route 52 to SR-78.
The signs correspond with the San Diego-511 app which was launched in May and gives drivers real time traffic.
For example, if a driver on the I-15 encounters a traffic jam, the app will suggest alternative routes to try and get around the traffic.
"Without even having to touch your phone or log-in, it will speak to you that there's an incident ahead and tell you which exit to exit and then to follow the signs,” said Dreisbach-Towle.
The signs are marked by letters, and depending which one a driver takes, the driver could end up driving through residential areas.
"If you're used to a 30-minute travel time, what we're trying to do is get that 30-minutes to you every time, even when there's accidents on the freeway,” said Dreisbach-Towle.
There are a total of nine alternate routes, and they will not just pop-up on the app. They will also appear on freeway signs.
According to Dreisbach-Towle, 20-percent of commuters already use alternate roads to get away from traffic, but the sign system ensures drivers will get back on the freeway as safely and quickly as possible.
San Diego is one of only two cities in the country trying out these alternate routes.
Dallas, Texas is also trying them out and if all goes well it could expand.